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More than two area athletes reached the pinnacle in their sports

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Becoming a professional athlete is one of the toughest jobs to come by. Always has, always will be. There just aren’t that many jobs out there.

Still, Hazleton and the surrounding townships, boroughs, villages and patch towns have produced their share of big leaguers through the years.

Mind you, there are no Hall of Famers among the lot, but there are plenty of area players dating all the way back to 1884 who have performed at their sport’s highest level. Among those are a three-time baseball Manager of the Year, baseball players, a handful that went on to the NFL and one who played pro basketball.

Here is a short biography on each of the 30-plus men who have donned the uniform of a big league sports team at one time or another over the past 130 years or so, plus another biography on one of the most acclaimed athletic trainers in professional sports.

BASEBALL

JOE BOLEY, Mahanoy City— Played with the Philadelphia Athletics (1927-1932) and Cleveland Indians (1932) for a combined six seasons. He reached the World Series three times, all with the Athletics.

Finished with a career batting average of .269 with seven home runs and 227 RBI in 1,780 at-bats. His first season was his best when he batted .311 with one home run and 52 RBI in 116 games and 370 at-bats.

He had six hits in 39 at-bats in the World Series.

MATT BRODERICK, Lattimer— Broderick had a “cup of coffee’’ in the majors, appearing in just two games for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1903. He went hitless in his two major league plate appearances.

JOHN BURKE, Hazleton— Another player with a short stint at the major league level, Burke appeared in just six games with the New York Giants in 1902.

Offensively, he finished with two hits, both singles, in 13 at-bats for a .154 batting average.

He appeared in two games as a pitcher, starting one. He posted an 0-1 record and 5.79 earned run average.

RUSS CANZLER, Conyngham— Was chosen as a third baseman out of Hazleton Area High School by the Chicago Cubs in the 30th round of the First-Year Player Draft in June 2004. They signed him to a $230,000 contract less than a month later, and his professional career was under way.

After minor league stops in Mesa, Ariz., Boise, Idaho, Peoria, Ill, Daytona Beach, Fla., the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and Durham, N.C, — where he was the International League Most Valuable Player for the Triple-A Bulls in 2011, Canzler got his first big league callup in September of that year by the Tampa Bay Rays. Hazleton native Joe Maddon was his manager.

“This has been my dream since I (was) a child, to be doing this,’’ he said that summer. “I’ve been very blessed and been very fortunate with the opportunity that I’ve been given.’’

Canzler was on the big league roster when the Rays made a dramatic late-season surge to an American League playoff berth, punching their postseason ticket by rallying past the New York Yankees on the final day of the regular season. Although he didn’t play much, he was part of the team’s wild celebration that night at Tropicana Field.

Local fans caught up with Canzler for a few days that September in Baltimore. Among those were Jeff Antolick, his high school baseball coach.

“This is the epitome here of hard work paying off for you,’’ Antolick said. “For any young kid that loves baseball and shows that he has the talent, and most importantly works very, very hard, this is what comes of it.’’

Individually, Canzler’s first base hit in the majors — a sharp single to center field — came as a pinch hitter for veteran Johnny Damon against the Yankees’ Aaron Laffey at Yankee Stadium. He also drove a sacrifice fly to deep center in the same game, just missing a grand slam.

“Someday, I’m probably gonna have to ask somebody to pinch me to see if this is all real,’’ Canzler said. “To get your first hit at Yankee Stadium, where you’re playing on the biggest stage not only in baseball, but probably the most storied venue in all of sports, it’s obviously a big deal and... something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.’’

The Rays traded Canzler to the Cleveland Indians during the next offseason. He struggled early in the 2012 season after not making the Tribe’s opening-day roster, before righting himself and earning his second straight Triple-A All-Star Game appearance.

He went 129-for-482 (.265 batting average), hit 36 doubles, three triples, 22 home runs and had 79 RBI for the Triple A-Columbus Clippers that year, before the Indians promoted him to the parent club.

Playing several positions, he batted a respectable .270 in Cleveland with three home runs and 12 RBI. He had singles in his first two at-bats and two of his home runs came against current southpaw standouts Francisco Liriano and Chris Sale, adding to Canzler’s reputation as a masher of left-handed pitchers.

Canzler was a popular free agent acquisition between the end of the 2012 season and the midway point of the 2013 campaign. No less than five organizations (Indians, Blue Jays, Yankees, Orioles and Pirates) brought him aboard, some more than once. He never established the rhythm he had in previous years, even though he belted 11 home runs in a half season with the Orioles’ top Triple-A club in Norfolk.

The Yankees re-signed Canzler before the 2014 season, giving him the chance to play with star shortstop Derek Jeter, who was on an extended rehab assignment with the Triple A-Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

But things didn’t quite work out for Canzler and the RailRiders, who played him only occasionally after he struggled at the plate before releasing him in June 2014.

He signed with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs six days later not knowing what to expect. However, his fortunes changed when he got to Allentown. He was a regular in the cleanup spot for the Philadelphia Phillies’ top Triple-A club and, in 61 games, slugged 11 home runs, drove in 34 runs and finished with a .286 batting average.

The Phillies were so pleased with Canzler that they invited him to their major league camp in November 2014.

Alas, he was one of the team’s final cuts at the very end of spring training in 2015. He never got a callup to the big club, even though the Phillies languished in last placed for most of the season.

Canzler still has hopes to make it to "the show.''

“I used to (think about it) when I was younger but that’s totally in their hands and I can’t worry about that stuff anymore,’’ he said in a 2015 interview. “If it happens, it happens. If not, you just keep plugging. I’ve been fortunate enough to be in the big leagues. That was my dream and I got there.''

PASQUALE “PETE” CERA — Never wore a uniform but he washed them while helping players through their hurts and heartbreaks during 60 years in professional baseball, mostly with the Philadelphia Phillies and their affiliates. Officially the assistant trainer, Cera was traveling secretary, clubhouse man, laundry man, medic and confidante.

He spent 36 years in minor league clubhouses, starting with the Hazleton Red Sox, before becoming a regular with the Phillies Major League squad.

In his induction speech in Cooperstown, Mike Schmidt mentioned Cera.

Dick Allen was forever grateful after Cera faced down a police officer who was trying to hassle Allen and other black players when their minor league Little Rock Travelers stopped in racially-charged Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. Allen was a pallbearer at Cera's funeral in 2004.

Richie Ashburn and Cera shared an apartment during baseball seasons.

When Cera retired in 1998, the Phillies presented him with an award, named after Ashburn, for the employee who shows the most loyalty, dedication and passion.

Former Phillies Manager Frank Lucchesi once said the three men he admires most are Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio and Pete Cera. GENE CONNELL, Hazleton— Connell saw action in six games for the 1931 Philadelphia Athletics, getting three singles in 12 plate appearances. His brother, Joe, batted once without a hit for the New York Giants in 1926.

JOE DUGAN, Ellengowan— Nicknamed “Jumping Joe,’’ he played in the majors as a shortstop and third baseman from 1917-1931. Played for the Philadelphia Athletics (1917-1922), Boston Red Sox (1922), New York Yankees (1922-1928), Boston Braves (1929) and Detroit Tigers (1931). Was considered one of the best defensive third baseman of his era.

Went directly from the College of the Holy Cross to the big leagues. Made his major league debut with Connie Mack’s Athletics on July 5, 1917.

Struggled as a hitter his first two years, batting a combined .195. But he batted .271 in 1919 and hit .322 the next year. By 1920, he was cited as the majors’ best third baseman. Was moved permanently to third base in 1921 and would be a steady .280-.300 hitter as well as a fine defensive third baseman for the rest of his career.

Had his most productive season in 1923, when he hit .283, scored 111 runs and led the league’s third basemen in fielding percentage to help the Yankees with their first world championship.

Acquired his nickname early in his career after he often took unauthorized leaves from the team.

CARL DUSER, Weatherly— Got into two games as a pitcher with the Kansas City Athletics, two as a starter in 1956 and one as a reliever. Had a career 1-1 record with a 7.88 ERA. Both decisions came as a starter.

CHRIS FULMER, Tamaqua— Played catcher for five seasons, one with Washington (1884) of the old Union Association and four with Baltimore of the American Association (1886-1889).

Hit .276 in 181 at-bats with Washington before spending the next four seasons with Baltimore. Hit just one career home run, drove in 23 runs and finished with a .247 batting average in 876 major league at-bats.

Stole 47 bases in his short career, including 35 with Baltimore in 1887.

Also got to pitch one game for Baltimore in 1886, throwing two innings of relief and allowing one run.

BOB GAMBLE, Hazleton— Started and lost his only appearance as a pitcher with Philadelphia of the American Association in 1888. Pitched a complete game despite allowing eight runs.

JIM HONOCHICK, Oneida — Played amateur ball in the East Penn League in the 1930s, but made the big leagues as an umpire. In a 25-year career, Honochick umpired in six All-Star games and six World Series. He was behind the plate calling pitches for no-hitters thrown by Virgil Trucks in 1952, Jack Kralick in 1962 and Sonny Siebert in 1966. When he retired Miller Lite tapped him to do a commercial with a former all-star whom Honochick didn’t recognize in the skit until he put on eyeglasses and said: “Hey, you’re Boog Powell.”

BEN HOUSER, Shenandoah— Played in parts of three seasons, one with Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics (1910) and two with the Boston Braves (1911-1912).

His best season was his last when he hit .286 with eight homers and 52 RBI. In his three seasons, he finished with a .267 career average with nine HR and 68 RBI in 472 at-bats.

NELLIE KING, Shenandoah— Spent four seasons primarily as a reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1954-1957), posting a career 7-5 mark and a 3.58 ERA. He made four starts in 1955.

His most productive season was 1956 when he went 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 38 games.

Never permitted a home run in 95 career appearances.

BRAD KOCHER, White Haven— Broke in with the Detroit Tigers in 1912, seeing action in 24 games. He hit just .204 without a home run and nine RBI.

Spent his only other two seasons in the majors with the New York Giants (1915-1916), hitting .455 in 11 at-bats in 1915 but just .108 in 65 at-bats the following season.

Finished with a career batting average of .180 in 139 plate appearances.

JOHN KULL, Shenandoah— Appeared as a relief pitcher for Philadelphia in one game in 1909. He picked up the win with three innings of work, allowing just one run despite giving up three hits and five walks.

NORM LARKER, Beaver Meadows— Spent six seasons with four teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (1958-1961), Houston Colt 45s (1962), Milwaukee Braves (1963) and San Francisco Giants (1963), compiling a career .275 batting average with 32 home runs and 271 RBI in 667 games and 1,953 at-bats.

The first baseman-outfielder’s best season was the 1960 campaign when he hit .323 in 440 at-bats with five homers and 78 RBI. His average was just two points shy of National League batting champion Dick Groat’s .325. Groat had two hits in the season finale to edge both Larker and Willie Mays for the batting title.

Larker played on the 1959 Dodgers’ team which surprisingly won the World Series in its second season in Los Angeles after moving from Brooklyn. He had three singles in 16 Series at-bats.

Compiled a career .281 batting average in 1,057 games covering 3,494 at-bats. Hit 107 career home runs and drove in 451 runs.

His best full season was in 1941 when he hit .305 for Philadelphia with 18 HR and 66 RBI in 151 games (590 at-bats).

Appeared in two World Series with St. Louis (1943-1944), getting eight hits in 35 at-bats with a home run and three RBI.

JOE MADDON, Hazleton— Began his big league coaching career with the California Angels in 1993 and served under managers Buck Rodgers, Marcel Lachemann, John McNamara, Terry Collins, and Mike Scioscia. Served two stints as interim manager during this time.

Managed the Tampa Bay Rays from 2006 through 2014, winning the 2008 American League pennant and taking the Rays to the playoffs four times. Earned American League Manager of the Year honors in 2008 and 2010.

After opting out of his contract following the 2014 season, he joined the Chicago Cubs, led them to the 2015 National League Championship Series and was named the 2015 National League Manager of the Year.

Hit .276 in his lengthy major league stay with 108 home runs and 513 RBI in 1,084 games and 3,172 at-bats.

ABNER POWELL, Shenandoah — Played center field and pitched for three teams in two seasons, with Washington of the Union Association in 1884 and with both Baltimore and Cincinnati of the American Association in 1886.

Had a career .257 batting average in 304 at-bats covering 78 games.

As a pitcher, appeared in 18 games with Washington in 1884 and in a combined 11 games with Baltimore and Cincinnati in 1886, compiling a career 8-18 record and a 4.00 ERA in 209 innings. Twenty-five of his 29 appearances came as a starter.

Managed the New Orleans franchise of the American Association after his playing days at the turn of the century, when he was credited with several firsts in baseball history.

Was the first to use a tarpaulin to cover an infield; was responsible for the first rain checks issued by a sports team; and organized the first “Ladies Day.’’ Back then baseball was considered off limits for women, but because of “Ladies Day’’ — when women were admitted free of charge — that all changed.

In the early 1950s, longtime Philadelphia Athletics manager Connie Mack praised Powell for doing more for the game than any other man.

Quinn posted only one 20-win season. That came in 1914, when he went 26-14 with Boston.

Finished his illustrious career with a 3.27 ERA in 755 games covering 3,934 innings. Had 1,329 strikeouts.

Appeared in three World Series, one with New York (1921) and two with Philadelphia (1929, 1930), going 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA.

BOB RINKER, Audenried— Got in three games with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1950, getting a pinch-hit single in three at-bats to finish with a career .333 batting average.

JIM SCOTT, Shenandoah— Appeared in eight games for Pittsburgh in 1914, batting .250 with six hits, including one double, and one RBI in 24 at-bats.

JOHN SHOVLIN, Drifton— Saw limited time in parts of three seasons with Pittsburgh (1911) and St. Louis (1919-1920), hitting .209 with nine hits in 43 at-bats. Had three RBI in his career.

HARRY STINE, Shenandoah— Started and finished his only major league appearance with Philadelphia of the American Association in 1890. He suffered a loss after allowing 17 hits and nine runs in eight innings.

MIKE TRESH, Hazleton— Spent 11 of his 12 major league seasons with the Chicago White Sox (1938-1948) before finishing his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1949.

Had a .249 lifetime batting average with two home runs and 297 RBI in 1,027 games, 3,169 at-bats.

His best season came with the White Sox in 1940 when he hit .281 in 480 bats. He had a home run and 64 RBI.

BASKETBALL

CARL “RED’’ MEINHOLD, Hazleton— A 6-foot-2 guard-forward went from Long Island University to playing two seasons (1947-1949) in the Basketball Association of America as a member of the Baltimore Bullets, Chicago Stags and Providence Steamrollers.

Averaged 5.3 points per game in his career and won a league championship with Baltimore in 1948. In 1953-54, he played for the Washington Generals, the opponents of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Attended Hazleton High School, where in 1944 he led the Mountaineers to a runner-up finish in the state tournament, scoring 25 points in a semifinal rout of Lower Merion before leaving with an injury. The injury prevented him from playing in the PIAA title game.

FOOTBALL

MARTIN BIBLA, Mountain Top — A 1997 Crestwood High School graduate, the mammoth offensive guard (6-3, 306) went on to star at the University of Miami, earning first team All-Big East honors in 2001.

Bibla was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft, playing in 31 games for the Falcons from 2002-04 and starting two at guard. He was released in 2005, and signed by the Denver Broncos one season later before also being released.

He caught on with the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League in 2007, earning a spot on the AFL’s All-Rookie Team in 2007 and on the All-Arena First Team in 2008. The AFL cancelled its season in 2009, but Bibla signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League and helped the team win the league championship in 2009.

GEORGE CHEVERKO, Beaver Meadows— Caught a combined three TD passes and made nine interceptions for the NFL’s New York Giants and Washington Redskins in 1947 and 1948.

NATE EACHUS, Drums— Though the ex-Hazleton Area High School star was passed up in the 2012 NFL Draft following his senior year at Colgate University, Eachus was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Following a strong preseason — including 206 rushing yards and big performances against Seattle and Green Bay — he made the Chiefs’ 53-man roster.

“I’ve dreamed about this my whole life. I’ve dreamed about this since I played youth football when I was five years old,” Eachus said on the eve of his NFL debut against Atlanta at Arrowhead Stadium in September 2012. “I always believed I could make it this far.”

Playing on special teams, and also lining up in the backfield as a blocking back for Peyton Hillis and Jammal Charles, Eachus was on the field quite a bit as a rookie. He even made a start against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football.

Although he weighed just 212 pounds, Eachus became Charles’ primary blocking back, and helped Charles to a Pro Bowl season that year. Eachus was not active during the closing weeks of the season due to injury.

Although Eachus’ first pro season was largely successful, the Chiefs struggled as a team, winning just two games, and at season’s end Romeo Crennel was fired as head coach. The Chiefs brought in former Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, who opted to release Eachus before the 2013 preseason even began.

Eachus has had several tryouts with other NFL teams since, but has yet to land a spot back in the NFL.

GEORGE KRACUM, Tresckow— The former Hazleton High standout fullback and 1940 All-American at Pitt, scored three touchdowns with Brooklyn in 1941.

SEAN LOVE, Coaldale— Played offensive guard for three seasons in the mid 1990s with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. Also practiced with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles.

RON MATTES, Shenandoah— Offensive tackle who played for seven seasons in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 1985 NFL Draft and he also played for the Chicago Bears.

The former North Schuylkill High School standout attended the University of Virginia, where he also served as an offensive line coach.

GERALD PLANUTIS, West Hazleton— Played for Michigan State from 1953-55 and was an All-American for the unbeaten, Rose Bowl-winning Spartans in 1955. Suited up for the NFL’s Washington Redskins in 1956.

BOB TUCKER, Hazleton— One of the most prolific tight ends of his era in the National Football League, Tucker never caught a pass at Hazleton High School.

He played center for the Mountaineers, where he also played basketball.

Tucker evolved into a receiver at Bloomsburg University. He caught a record 77 passes in college, but said the blocking techniques that he learned in high school helped him at tight end.

Despite graduating with nine school records, Tucker didn’t get drafted by the NFL.

So he played semi-pro football.

In 1968, he led the Atlantic Coast Football League in receiving, and played for the league’s Pottstown Firebirds in 1969 while also spending time on the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The next year, the New York Giants signed Tucker as a 25-year-old rookie, and he caught 40 passes.

In 1971, he teamed with quarterback Fran Tarkenton, and caught 59 passes, most in the National Football Conference.

During his seven years in New York, the Giants went 38-71-1 and never made the playoffs.

But when Tucker was traded to the Minnesota Vikings midway through the 1977 season, he rejoined Tarkenton and reached the playoffs three of the next four years before retiring with 422 career catches and 27 touchdowns. In his NFL career, he never fumbled.

After football, Tucker has maintained a Hazleton residence while doing business in the New York metro area.

One of his three children, Matt, played basketball with distinction at Hazleton Area High School and Penn State Hazleton.

JOHN YACCINO, Hazleton— The former Hazleton High School and University of Pittsburgh standout played for one season (1962) as a defensive back with the American Football League’s Buffalo Bills.

ERIC SUGARMAN, Hazleton— The 1987 Hazleton High School graduate is in his 19th season as an NFL trainer in 2015 and his 10th as the Minnesota Vikings’ head athletic trainer.

He got his start by helping popular HHS athletic trainer Mike “Magic’’ Macejko while he was still in high school. It didn’t matter if Sugarman was carrying water bottles, helping to tape an athlete’s ankle, running for something that Macejko needed, Sugarman was always available. In turn, he found his life calling.

In 2015, Sugarman was part of his seventh division championship team since 2000 and eighth playoff-bound team. In 2009, the Vikings were a three-point overtime loss in New Orleans away from the Super Bowl.

During his tenure with the Vikings, Sugarman and his staff have been instrumental in helping several players return from severe injury by creating or enhancing rehabilitation protocols — notably helping running back Adrian Peterson come back from knee surgery to repair two torn ligaments sooner than expected in 2012.

With the Vikings, Sugarman supervises the evaluation and care of all injuries sustained. He and his staff implement and maintain proactive treatment and rehabilitation programs.

The Vikings athletic training staff have broad-based experience in athletic training and have trained under some of the most respected professionals in their field. The staff prides itself on being proactive while using the most current concepts, modalities and principles.

Sugarman and the entire Vikings’ athletic training staff are Performance Enhancement Specialists through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. During the 2010 offseason, they were trained in Graston technique, a patented form of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization that works to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions.

Sugarman has worked closely the past several years with the Nike SST (Sensory Sport Training) team and has brought many of their vision concepts into the Vikings athletic training room. He has also established a strong working relationship with Starkey Hearing of Eden Prairie, allowing him to bring state-of-the-art hearing enhancement and ear protection to the team and staff.

Sugarman spent the 1997-99 seasons with the Chicago Bears and the 2000-05 campaigns with Philadelphia, going to the Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2004. The West Chester University graduate got his first taste of the NFL as a summer intern for the Bears’ athletic training staff from 1993-95.

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